Whether outsiders believe it or not, New Jersey's nickname is and will always be the Garden State.

Evidence of the state's agricultural prowess can be seen along just about any main stretch through Warren or Hunterdon counties -- tomatoes, blueberries and corn, all locally grown and for sale with the state-supported "Jersey Fresh" tag.

State lawmakers are now deciding whether New Jersey's blossoming wine industry should receive the same legislative support.

Lawmakers are considering bipartisan legislation that would create the New Jersey Wine Board, which would oversee the state's wine industry and look to expand it through promotion and research. The board would receive a portion of the revenue the state currently collects from the sale of
locally-produced wines and ciders.

The proposed bill sponsored by state Sens. Donald Norcross, Kevin O'Toole and James Beach cleared the Senate Economic Growth Committee last week and will now head to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“While New Jersey ranks among the top 10 states in wine production in
the country, there is no doubt that our wines are among the finest and
can compete with those produced around the world," Norcross said in a statement. "Supporting our growers
and vintners is key to ensuring the industry continues to grow and
thrive."

That's a message that especially resonates with some winemakers in Warren and Hunterdon counties, which combined are now home to at least a half-dozen vineyards.

Gambino worked to help draft the legislation as a member of the Garden State Wine Growers Association's legal committee, a statewide organization to which her winery also belongs. She said that supporting wine tourism is beneficial to those within the industry and to those outside it.

Other locally grown produce is available to tourists passing through Gambino's vineyard and often that might lead to people wanting to return to the area to explore more. A trip to a winery in Warren or Hunterdon counties might also lead to a visitor dining at a local restaurant or lodging at a nearby inn, she said.

"Getting out to sample local wines is great and when you do that, you often end up discovering other tourism options in the area," Gambino said.

Winemaker Mike Beneduce of Alexandria Township'sBeneduce Vineyards said that while the proposed legislation would surely provide a boost to the industry, it's no longer a secret that New Jersey is making some of the best wines around.

"I think that our quality is as good or better than anybody on the East Coast," Beneduce said of New Jersey wineries.

He points to examples of successful state-sponsored promotions of the industry in New York and Virginia as a sign of where he hopes New Jersey is headed.

"Just in the last five years or so we've really seen the potential of New Jersey to make world-class wines," Beneduce said. "So I think it's the perfect timing for the state to get on board."

Beneduce is especially excited about the potential for wine research and education that's proposed in the bill.

"If you look at any other states that have had great success, the educational facilities have been fundamentally involved in growing their industries," he said.

Sharko said wine research and education in New Jersey is way behind its competitors, particularly the states with which it shares borders.

"The research done in New Jersey is 10 years behind anything being done in Pennsylvania or New York state," he said.

Sharko says the proposed legislation is really aimed at "hobbyists" posing as winemakers and attempting to benefit from increased tourism exposure. Deeming only three wineries in the state to be of a quality that can be compared to some vineyards in California and elsewhere, Sharko said the bill is misguided in its approach.

"New Jersey will never gain any kind of national reputation until they invest in professionals," Sharko said.